<p>@cptofthehouse - it’s a rough, rough industry. I can only imagine how much harder it must be for actors (they certainly have the steepest hill to climb). Although it’s easy to rationalize the situation as one of supply and demand, input and output, profit and price, that’s not what art is all about. Art is about hopes and dreams. For all of time, art has been an industry that lifts some people up above the masses into those dreams, and crushes others, dragging them behind in the dust. Like I said. It’s rough. You’re very right that there will never be enough parts to satisfy every willing actor. That’s the way a market works. But I can’t think of another industry as competitive as theater or film. As unfair as it is, I suppose things will never change, so you just gotta do what you have to do and make the most of it. </p>
<p>The one thing I’ve grown to conclude is that there are things you can control, and things you can’t control. You can’t control how attractive you are. You can’t control race (which can get in the way of acting) or gender (which certainly serves as an obstacle in the “boys club” of filmmaking). You can’t control how much money your parents have, and most of all, you can’t control your level of innate talent (that “spark” or special something you’re born with - you know, when you’re a natural at something). Some aspiring singers are awful singers. Some aspiring writers can’t write to save their life. It’s a sad reality, but it’s true. </p>
<p>All one can hope for is an easy let down, and a transition into a more realistic yet equally satisfying and fulfilling career. Does failure in the arts really have to mean failure in life? Of course not! I have a family friend whose son went to acting school, and things didn’t work out for him while he was there. Over the years, his dream of being “the big star” slowly morphed into something more subdued, and now he owns his own private theater company and makes a great, fun living off of teaching students how to act. </p>
<p>But there are things you can control, and one of those is debt. You can control where you live (to some extent) and you can control how outgoing you are or how hard you work. I think what the game is all about is taking the things you can control and bending them to your will. Don’t shackle yourself with debt. Take what you can change and change it for the better. That’s really the best you can do for yourself. </p>